The Cybertruck, admired by some, likened to a giant tin can by others, finally shows its first (real) turns of the wheel. The manufacturer did not do things by halves in tackling the sacrosanct 1/4 mile so dear in the United States.
The American firm’s truck is finally here for its first customers. After production was postponed numerous times, for 2023 and again a little later in 2024, the beast is finally here. Following a launch party that looked like a bad comedy, long and showing Elon Musk incapable of opening the doors of his vehicles to his customers, it’s time for performances! A promotional video from the brand, released on December 2 on the manufacturer’s official YouTube channel, finally shows the super pick-up in action. As usual with Tesla, it’s impressive.
Exceptional design and performance
Imposing dimensions, particular design, rarely has an SUV been so talked about. We cannot say that Tesla did not take risks at this level, but it is clear that the bias does not please everyone. If we compare it with the rest of the market, its “tin can” look is still unique. The innovation is there, it’s impossible to deny it, but the result is still special.
Besides its appearance, the Cybertruck displays stratospheric performance. Three different models are available, and the most “extreme” version, the Cybertruck Cyberbeast, is equipped with three 845 horsepower engines. Equipment which allows it to go from 0 to 100 in 2.6 seconds and to cover 510 km in normal driving, and 710 km in “extended autonomy”. Features well beyond other vehicles offered in the global automotive catalog.
A spectacular duel against Porsche
For its promotional video, the Cybertruck was placed opposite a Porsche 911 Carrera (model 992), 385 horsepower. The staging is polished, and shows a duel between the two vehicles practicing the typically American exercise of a drag racing over a quarter mile (400 meters from a standing start). To balance the race, the Cybertruck set off towing a trailer loaded with another Porsche 911. Result? This one crossed the finish line before the Porsche sports car.
It’s certainly impressive, but we can’t ask Tesla’s SUV to do anything other than go in a straight line. With such a design, it is hard to imagine it being as effective in turns. A nice communication stunt for Tesla. But a fundamental question remains: is it really useful? Who could be interested in such a vehicle, especially in France, when we know that the B license will not be sufficient to drive it. Indeed, with 3,500 kg on the scale in its simple version, the most expensive version is a real heavyweight: from 4,082 to 4,536 kg depending on the configurations!
The price of the Cybertruck, in standard version (a single engine and 400 km of autonomy) will sell for $60,990 and will be available only in the USA from 2025. The top-of-the-range model costs $99,990; a price far from competitive. The latter, as well as the intermediate version (600 horsepower and 550 to 780 km of autonomy for $79,990) are for the moment the only ones actually leaving the factory.
Sources: Big Data, Turbo
34